Our Services / Diabetic Foot

What is a diabetic foot?

People with diabetes are at risk of several complications affecting the lower limbs. These include:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Neuropathy is nerve damage. With diabetes, high blood sugar disrupts nerve function, causing pain, tingling, burning, and numbness. These symptoms most often develop in the feet.

Poor circulation

Diabetes also damages the blood vessels in your legs. Blood pumps slower and can pool in the tissues. This results in you not getting enough oxygen, nutrients, and healing cells that your tissues need to grow and repair themselves.

These problems make diabetic feet vulnerable to sores, calluses, corns, and infections that can quickly get worse and might be challenging to treat. If numbness prevents you from feeling a cut or noticing an ingrown toenail, the untreated injury could deteriorate rather than heal.

The result is a painful open sore (diabetic ulcer) that resists healing. Ulcers can become gangrenous, which can be fatal without treatment. If gangrene sets in, the tissues die, and amputation could be the only solution.

What is diabetic foot care?

Diabetic foot care helps people with diabetes manage their foot health effectively.

You must inspect your feet daily for:

• Bruises
• Cuts
• Scratches
• Redness
• Warmth
• Blisters
• Ulcers
• Wounds
• Infections
• Pressure-sensitive areas
• Toenail abnormalities

You should check in regularly with your primary care doctor to ensure that you manage your blood sugar levels properly. You should also schedule routine exams with the Adler Foot and Ankle team. They’ll advise how often to visit them for a diabetic foot check.

What happens at my diabetic foot check?

At your diabetic foot check, your podiatrist examines your feet and looks for damage. They trim your toenails and treat conditions like toenail fungus, corns, calluses, and ingrown toenails that increase your infection risk. Your podiatrist also offers advice on diet, exercise, and other ways to improve your foot health.

You might need medication to improve poor circulation if your feet get worse. Dr. Charlton Adler specializes in diabetic foot care, wound care for diabetic ulcers, and limb salvage. He’s also a durable medical equipment (DME) Medicare-approved diabetic shoe provider, and the practice offers a complete line of Vionic diabetic shoes.

Call Adler Foot and Ankle today or book an appointment online to arrange your diabetic foot check.